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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 24 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: more Murray the K
From: Country Paul
2. Re: "The Beatles' Recording Sessions"
From: Mike McKay
3. Re: Hollies discography
From: Austin Powell
4. Posthumous overdubs; Penthouse sdtrk
From: Country Paul
5. Re: sequel to "My Boyfriend's Back"
From: Phil X. Milstein
6. Re: Demensions' "Over The Rainbow"
From: Michael Fishberg
7. Re: Klaus Voorman
From: Phil X. Milstein
8. Girls With Guitars
From: Julio Niño
9. Re: EMI stereo
From: Michael Fishberg
10. Re: My Colouring Book
From: Bill George
11. Re: buying reissue CDs
From: James Botticelli
12. Re: Nick Drake
From: Jim Shannon
13. Re: Demensions' "Over The Rainbow"
From: Ed Salamon
14. Dobie Gillis Theme
From: Alan "Albabe" Gordon
15. Re: Demensions' "Over The Rainbow"
From: Austin Roberts
16. Re: Beach Boy Meets 'Duck' on Cartoon Network
From: Karen Andrew
17. Hippies?
From: Alan "Albabe" Gordon
18. Need song help!
From: Justin McDevitt
19. Re: Klaus Voorman
From: Eric Predoehl
20. Re: Carson & Gaile
From: ACJ
21. Peter Antell, John Linde and the Percells
From: S'pop Team
22. 3 In The Attic; Spectors 3's creamy wall; Boston country; doo-wop notes; Agnetha; Murray LP on Chess; ? for Paul Evans
From: Country Paul
23. 12 great "Standards" on one album - Nino Tempo & April Stevens
From: Michael Fishberg
24. Re: Girls With Guitars / Pat Powdrill @ musica
From: Mick Patrick
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Message: 1
Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 01:34:11 -0400
From: Country Paul
Subject: Re: more Murray the K
Fred Clemens, I loved your Murray The K comments; I never knew about his
pre-WINS career! By the way at http://www.murraythek.com , go to the TV
page, and click on the mini-thumbnail pic that says "Murray The K Dancers."
You get a 10-second RealPlayer movie with The Association lip-syncing the
chant portion of "Requium For The Masses", plus a bit of a dance routine.
Rather cool, actually! There are bunches of video snippets of other artists,
too: Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Jim Morrison, Chuck Jackson, The
Supremes, over a dozen more -- doggone, they all look so *young*!
Peter Grad:
> I'm afraid I never heard of the Excellents... but I will see if
> I can pick up their record as well...
"Coney Island Baby" and "You Baby You" (a remake of the Cleftones classic)
was a great two-sided hit on Blast in 1961-62.
I remember Freedomland before it was Freedomland. It was an area of
summer cottages that had been washed away by a hurricane in 1938; all
that was left was abandoned streets with weeds growing up through the
broken pavement. By the way, I also saw B. Mitchell Reed at Freedomland
one hot summer day in 1964; another superb radio talent who helped
introduce progressive rock to the west coast as Murray did in the east.
Country Paul
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Message: 2
Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 01:07:18 EDT
From: Mike McKay
Subject: Re: "The Beatles' Recording Sessions"
Joe Nelson wrote:
> My copy of Mark Lewissohn's The Beatles' Recording Sessions has been
> lost to me for a couple of years.
Thanks for the interesting post, Joe. This portion of it reminded me
that I wanted to mention that anyone who doesn't own Lewissohn's
essential book -- in my view, the single most important book in the
Beatle canon -- can pick it up on the cheap. I saw a huge pile of a
newer soft cover edition on sale at my local Borders for (I think)
$7.99.
Only curious thing was that it seemed very thin compared with earlier
versions. I'm hoping this is just a matter of using smaller type, as
opposed to it being an abridgement of any kind.
Mike
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Message: 3
Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 08:07:45 +0100
From: Austin Powell
Subject: Re: Hollies discography
Albabe:
> Is there a Hollies expert in here? What I'm curious about is which
> other CDs do I need to have to have a fairly complete collection of
> their early output, and without too much duplication?
Alan: EMI issued a box set in the UK sometime last year (I think).
It had a lot of non-singles material on it.
Recently, (March) they also issued a CD called "A's, B's & EP's" on
the EMI Gold label, but this contains a lot of singles amongst the 24
tracks from 1963 to 1967.
Austin
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Message: 4
Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 02:06:20 -0400
From: Country Paul
Subject: Posthumous overdubs; Penthouse sdtrk
Kurt:
> I would reckon that "posthumous overdubbing" is always done to some
> degree following the untimely deaths of substantial (and profitable)
> musicians... provided there are recordings left to embellish.
Jim Croce's "I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song," an example of same,
substitutes a mundane I chord for the V that you can hear him play on his
guitar between verses. Shame - it really dumbs down the artist's original
demo.
Not dead, in fact a "prequel" of sorts, is the Bob Lind album on Verve
Folkways (or was it Forecast by then?), designed to cash in on the success
of "Elusive Butterfly," which overdubbed a orchestra over some folk-style
earlier recordings by Lind. It sounds as though the conductor wasn't even
listening to the source tapes - as the lead singer of my old band would say,
it was "tight as a horse's thighs." I believe the album was called "Don't Be
Concerned" - and Lind should have been!
Michael Stroggoff:
> British label Harkit Records are shortly to officially release an
> album of all Toni's recordings. Fascinating liner notes from Wayne
> Shanklin's son are to be included. Their site is at www.harkitrecords.com
Also there, FYI: the soundtrack of the recently discussed movie "The
Penthouse."
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Message: 5
Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 15:01:13 +0000
From: Phil X. Milstein
Subject: Re: sequel to "My Boyfriend's Back"
Charles Ulrich wrote:
> So were the MOI covering an actual record released circa 1963 in
> response to "My Boyfriend's Back"? The violent nature of the final
> section makes me skeptical. Perhaps it's an original by Frank Zappa
> (possibly in collaboration with Mothers vocalist Ray Collins). But
> the other three songs in the medley are all covers (albeit with
> modified lyrics).
Dunno bout "I'm Gonna Bust His Head" -- sounds more like Zappa's sense
of humor, and too bad it was never recorded. I'd always thought of The
Angels' "The Boy With The Black Eye" as something of a "My BF's Back"
sequel.
--Phil M.
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Message: 6
Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 06:18:06 -0700 (PDT)
From: Michael Fishberg
Subject: Re: Demensions' "Over The Rainbow"
Previously:
> Not that this is meant to be a new string for us to follow, but my
> favorite remake of a "standard" is The Demensions' 1960 version of
> Over The Rainbow. Just wondering if others like the record.
This highy sought-after recording (which came out here in England on
the Top ank label # JAR505), and does happen to be a favourite of mine
also, was followed (in this country anyway) by "Count Your Blessings
Instead Of Sheep" the following year [1961](UK release on Coral Q72437)
- another fine reworking of a standard, but, not in a class, in my view
with "Rainbow".
If I may propose a favourite standard of mine, I'd like to nominate Toni
Fisher's terrific rendition of "Autmn Leaves" on her "Big Hurt" LP on
Signet. Also from the same period as The Demensions. Which is where I
came in...
Michael Fishberg
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Message: 7
Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 12:33:24 +0000
From: Phil X. Milstein
Subject: Re: Klaus Voorman
Frank Jastfelder wrote:
> Voorman brought out his biography in Germany in October of last year.
> It's called "Why Don't You Play 'Imagine' On The White Piano, John?"
> (sic). I have no clue if there's a translated version for the English
> market yet. It has 327 pages, and was well-received over here.
Frank, I'll buy you a copy of the book if you'll translate it into
English for us!
Best,
--Phil M.
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Message: 8
Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 21:09:48 -0000
From: Julio Niño
Subject: Girls With Guitars
Hola Everybody.
I feel as excited as a shark in a blood swimming pool. The reason
is the new and stimulating ACE compilation: "Girls With Guitars",
compiled by Mick Patrick, full of menacing girlie songs. My
favorites are "My Baby" by The Girls (their picture on the cover
of the CD is gorgeous), "Get Away From Me" by the Angels and the
very surprising "They Are The Lonely" by the marvelous Pat
Powdrill and the Powerdrills. I'm more and more obsessed with Pat.
I love all of her songs I know ("Happy Anniversary", "Together
Forever" and the irresistible "Do it").
The booklet has plenty of great pictures and Mick´s notes are as
informative and entertaining as ever.
Chao.
Julio Niño.
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Message: 9
Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 06:22:05 -0700 (PDT)
From: Michael Fishberg
Subject: Re: EMI stereo
Mikey on the Shadows:
> That's one band and one instance where nobody can say the mono
> sounds better -- it doesn't. The Shads in stereo is a fantastic
> listening experience. Listen to the stereo Wonderful Land with
> the strings -- it doesn't get better than that.
Going back to 1961 and EMI's John Barry recording of "Stringbeat"
on Columbia LP stereo (SCX3401) . Not sure who engineered that,
but it was truly wondrous sound!
Michael Fishberg
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Message: 10
Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 09:59:52 EDT
From: Bill George
Subject: Re: My Colouring Book
I have a nice version by Skeeter Davis too. And I believe "What
Now My Love" was originally recorded by Mel Torme. And for the
record, I dig that bolero beat :)
Bill
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Message: 11
Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 16:53:59 -0400
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: buying reissue CDs
Michael Godin wrote:
> I find Collectors Choice Music to be very helpful myself. I have
> been buying from them for over five years, and have always been
> found their service, delivery and prices to my satisfaction.
I find their delivery incredibly slow which is why they are always
my last resort...the websites pump 'em out quick...
JB
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Message: 12
Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 17:03:36 -0000
From: Jim Shannon
Subject: Re: Nick Drake
Susan:
> Does anybody know about other posthumous (Nick Drake) releases?
Yes. In the U.K. they are also releasing "Tow the Line".
Jim Shannon
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Message: 13
Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 14:54:16 -0000
From: Ed Salamon
Subject: Re: Demensions' "Over The Rainbow"
Austin Roberts wrote:
> Not that this is meant to be a new string for us to follow, but my
> favorite remake of a "standard" is The Demensions' 1960 version of
> Over The Rainbow. Just wondering if others like the record.
I always felt that record was heavily influenced by the Skyliners,
who recorded some great standards on their first album in along with
the songs written by Joe Rock and Jimmy Beaumont. The Demensions
were from the NYC area, and the Skyliners were huge there thanks to
Alan Freed. A big Skyliner fan, I like all the groups that performed
in that style in that era.
Ed Salamon
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Message: 14
Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 14:00:51 -0700
From: Alan "Albabe" Gordon
Subject: Dobie Gillis Theme
Chris Schneider says:
> I always liked the "Dobie Gillis" TV show. Perhaps its jazzy
> credits music was where I acquired my taste for vocalese?
Has anyone got this awesome theme song???
pleads,
~albabe
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Message: 15
Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 23:43:21 EDT
From: Austin Roberts
Subject: Re: Demensions' "Over The Rainbow"
Gary Myers:
> Yes, I like (the Demensions' "Over The Rainbow") a lot, and our
> band (The Portraits) incorporated a couple of their touches into
> our (Four Seasons-style) version, mainly the I-bIII-II-bII
> turnaround and the alteration of the melody (which we used only
> on the last verse). The only thing I didn't care for on The
> Demensions' version is the fact that chords they used on the
> bridge do not accomodate the actual melody.
Hey Gem, I was told by a musician friend of mine from Brooklyn who
knows the lead male singer/arranger (the arranger part being the
most important where this record is concerned), was just a kid when
he put this record together, and it sounds like he just let his muse
take him wherever. There is a certain magic to the record, including
the beautiful female part.
Hope all is well, Austin Roberts
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Message: 16
Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 18:05:42 -0700 (PDT)
From: Karen Andrew
Subject: Re: Beach Boy Meets 'Duck' on Cartoon Network
Previously:
> Beach Boy Meets 'Duck' on Cartoon Network
> By Jim Bessman
> NEW YORK (Billboard) - It seems only fitting for Brian Wilson to
> become a cartoon character.
> An animated representation of the legendary Beach Boy will star
> in a midsummer episode of the Cartoon Network's hit series "Duck
> Dodgers."
I don't have cable (or I'd be a certifiable couch potato) so I'm
curious about the Cartoon Network's hit series "Duck Dodgers". Is
this cartoon for adults? Otherwise, why would little kids know who
Brian Wilson is? I think this is great if the intended audience
knows who Brian is and are fans of his and the Beach Boys music.
Me:
> Ha! One of my editors just said "out and about" to a reporter
> that's going out somewhere to a story and that rang a bell.
> Wasn't one of Boyce and Hart's hits "Out and About"?
Al Kooper:
> I have a video of an I Dream Of Jeannie show where Phil Spector
> is sitting on the phone in his office and Jeannie appears and
> talks him into auditioning the band she manages, When she makes
> the band appear, its Boyce & Hart & company sans a drummer.
> Jeannie plays the drums and they lip-synch Out & About. Spector
> says it's gonna be # 1 and signs 'em up. Its in color as well.
> In real life, Spector had nothing to do with their Beatle soundalike.
What a great story! What a great I Dream of Jeannie episode!
Karen
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Message: 17
Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 13:58:07 -0700
From: Alan "Albabe" Gordon
Subject: Hippies?
"Where do all the "Hippies" meet?"
If any of you "Hippies" wanna meet for a drink someplace in the
original city of Hippy Hipness and reminisce about those great
"Age of Aquarius" concerts in the Golden Gate Park band shell,
please get back to me.
Peace, Love, Peter Max, Santanna,
~albabe (hangin' in the resplendent Hippy center of the Universe,
San Francisco)
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Message: 18
Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 21:28:35 -0700
From: Justin McDevitt
Subject: Need song help!
The other day while my mind was recalling various musical memories
of my youth, a song bubbled up into my consciousness. I first
heard this track played on the radio in early December 1964. I don't
know if it charted here in the US, though I'm sure it did chart in
the Uk and in Europe. This particular song has a two word title; the
first word being Tokyo. The ensemble, Bert Kaempfert-like in its
sound, took its name from a fellow German, the guy who most likely
had put the band together. I know that one of you experts will step
up to the plate and solve this musical mystery here.
Yours in music,
Justin McDevitt (soon to be relocating to "that other city" across
the Mississippi from Minneapolis.
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Message: 19
Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 20:50:32 -0700
From: Eric Predoehl
Subject: Re: Klaus Voorman
Frank Jastfelder:
> (Klaus) Voorman brought out his biography in Germany in October
> of last year. It's called "Why Don't You Play 'Imagine' On The
> White Piano, John?" (sic). I have no clue if there's a translated
> version for the English market yet. It has 327 pages, and was well-
> received over here.
You can contact Klaus via his website.
http://www.voormann.com/
A few years ago, I bought a nice lithograph from his website. It was
very reasonably priced.
Looking at his newsletter, it looks like there was a documentary on
his life for Swedish TV.
ERIC PREDOEHL
of way too many LOUIEs at
LouieLouie.net
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Message: 20
Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 22:53:34 -0400
From: ACJ
Subject: Re: Carson & Gaile
For Frank Jastfelder: The only other US hit single that C. Carson Parks
wrote (that I know of) was "Cab Driver," which brought the venerable
Mills Brothers back to the Top 40 in 1968.
ACJ
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Message: 21
Date: Thu, 13 May 2004 20:14:57 +0100
From: S'pop Team
Subject: Peter Antell, John Linde and the Percells
S'pop are pleased to announce the publication of a brand new
feature by John Clemente, author of that essential tome "Girl
Groups: Fabulous Females That Rocked The World".
The article documents the careers of Long Island-based girl
group the Percells and the songwriting/production team Pete
Antell and John Linde.
Read it here: http://www.spectropop.com/percells/index.htm
To tie in, Peter Antell's rare single "Wanting", released on
Bob Crewe's New Voice label in 1967, is currently playing @
musica, S'pop's listening lounge. Hear the track here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spectropop/files/musica/
Enjoy!
The S'pop Team
-----------------------------------------------------------
Coming soon:
Country Paul Payton "On The Front Porch"
and
"The Dickens, You Say" by Phil Milstein
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Message: 22
Date: Thu, 13 May 2004 01:09:11 -0400
From: Country Paul
Subject: 3 In The Attic; Spectors 3's creamy wall; Boston country; doo-wop notes; Agnetha; Murray LP on Chess; ? for Paul Evans
Mike McKay Re: Three in the Attic / Cellar:
> Yes to the album cover, and yes to the fine soundtrack. The main
> title song is quite good despite its unwieldy title ("Paxton
> Quigley's Had the Course").
It was a Chad & Jeremy B-side, as I remember. Same version?
monophonius:
> Spector's real first atmospheric Wall of Sound production was the
> Paris Sisters' "I Love How You Love Me," arranged by Hank Levine,
> IMHO.
May I gently disagree? With the exception of the "slamming" snare on the
offbeat, "Be My Boy," their first for Gregmark (Gregmark 2), pre-dates it.
Abd even before, my nomination goes to The Spectors Three's magnificent "I
Really Do" (3 Trey) in 1960. The track is as smooth as whipped cream, and by
the fade everything has blended together to perfection. This could be my
all-time favorite Spector production, BTW; I even named my record company,
"Presence," after it - one didn't hear distinct instruments but rather a
magical presence that hovered over the session. (Actually, I think Phil was
working toward this sound in the later Teddy Bears singles, although the
instrumentation was still very sparse.)
Dan Hughes:
> Who'da thunk Boston of all places would produce country and bluegrass
> stars??
There's been a country and rockabilly tradition in New England from the late
50s into the early 60s (can't identify a lot of the names, and while
significant it wasn't predominant), plus the folk movement got started in
Cambridge at Harvard Square.
Clark Besch to Paul Evans:
> Maybe you should be doing a doo wop show on WCBS in NYC, since
> they dropped doo wop in the town most known to embrace the music.
A tragedy, too. There's a pair of local AM's in northern New Jersey, WMTR
1170 and 1250, which have a fulltime format of "pre-Beatles" (approximately)
rock oldies. Somewhat predictable, but not bad - certainly better than
WCBS-FM has become.
Peter Lerner: the Agnetha album sounds very interesting. The original "My
Coloring Book," as far as I know, was by Sandy Stewart on Colpix. Her
version duked it out with one by Kitty Kallen on Decca (IIRC). The Stewart
version is really pretty and carries some weight as well.
Re: Murray The K Lp's, There was one on Chess as well: "Murray The K's
Golden Gassers," Chess 1458 NYC. Interesting - no liner notes, and on the
labels, nbo mention of Murray! The "NYC" after the number gives it away;
Chess probably franchised the LP in various markets to various DJs. Good
collection, though:
Robert & Johnny - We Belong Together
Moonglows - Sincerely
Students - So Young
Moonglows - Ten Commandments of Love
Flamingos - A Kiss From Your Lips
Monotones - Book of Love
Tune Weavers - Happy Happy Birthday Baby
Billy Bland - Let The Little Girl Dance
Johnnie & Joe - Over The Mountain, Across The Sea*
Moonglows - Most of All
Flamingos - I'll Be Home
Lee Andrews & The Hearts - Long, Lonely Nights
* Later covered by our own Paul Evans!
Paul, a question: did you know and/or do you know anything about Ralph
DeMarco, your label-mate at Guaranteed, who had a hit with "Old Shep"? That
damn record *still* makes me cry every time!
Country Paul
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Message: 23
Date: Thu, 13 May 2004 03:10:41 -0700 (PDT)
From: Michael Fishberg
Subject: 12 great "Standards" on one album - Nino Tempo & April Stevens
I think that the Nino Tempo & April Stevens album "Nono & April Sing
The Great Songs" (Atco SD162 from 1966) is nothing short of pure
genius. Their renditions of "Begin The Beguine" and "Who (Stole My
Heart Away)?" are without doubt the most original in a wholly original
and completely underrated album. Not sure who did the sensational and
startling arrangements. Give him a medal!
Michael Fishberg
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Message: 24
Date: Thu, 13 May 2004 21:54:34 +0100
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Re: Girls With Guitars / Pat Powdrill @ musica
Julio Niqo:
> I feel as excited as a shark in a blood swimming pool. The reason
> is the new and stimulating ACE compilation: "Girls With Guitars",
Read a little more about this CD, and all their new releases at the
Ace website: http://www.acerecords.co.uk/gotrt/apr04/cdchd989.html
> ...full of menacing girlie songs. My favorites are "My Baby" by
> The Girls (their picture on the cover of the CD is gorgeous)...
S'popper Mary Ann Madrid supplied that great picture. Thanks, Mary.
After the CD went to press, Ace Records discovered in their tape
vaults an unissued track by the Girls, recorded for the Autumn label
c. 1964/5. I've pencilled it in for Volume 2. Could you hang on for
15 years please?
> ..."Get Away From Me" by the Angels...
I've no idea who these chicks are, but I'm gripped by their very bad
attitude. Obviously, they are not the same trio that warned us all
"My Boyfriend's Back". "Get Away From Me" was recorded for the Swan
label, but never released. So there's a good chance these Angels
crawled out from some dark alley in Philadelphia. Does anyone know
anything about them? Fat chance, but you gotta ask.
> ...and the very surprising "They Are The Lonely" by the marvelous
> Pat Powdrill and the Powerdrills. I'm more and more obsessed with
> Pat. I love all of her songs I know ("Happy Anniversary", "Together
> Forever" and the irresistible "Do it").
Without wishing to over-stimulate you, I have another small treat.
Visit musica now for another great track by the leggy Pat: "Breaking
Point" (Reprise 0286, 1964). This gem was written by Connie St. John,
arranged by David Gates and produced by Jimmy Bowen. Lend a shell-
like here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spectropop/files/musica/
Hey la,
Mick Patrick
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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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